Rotary feeder for evenly distributing material in barrels



@cito 5, 1954 Filed May 15, 1952 \\\\\\\\\&\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\m\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\&

J. w. WIGGINS 2,690,827 ROTARY FEEDER FOR EVENLY DISTRIBUTING MATERIAL IN BARRELS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

INVENTOR.

c'fwes Zfl $299152; m 6M ATTORNEYS W. WIGGINS ROTARY FEEDER FOR EVENLY DISTRIBUTING MATERIAL IN BARRELS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 15, 1952 ATTD RN EYS Patented Oct. 5, 1 954 ROTARY FEEDER FOR EVENLY DISTRIBUT- IN G MATERIAL 1N BARRELS James W. Wiggins, Wilson, N. 0.

Application May 15, 1952, Serial No. 287,849

2 Claims.

This invention relates to distributing feeding devices, and in particular a rotary feeder for evenly distributing tobacco in a tobacco barrel or hogshead before the tobacco is packed into the barrel with a hydraulic ram.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a feeder that travels around the area above a tobacco barrel so that tobacco may be evenly distributed over the area within the barrel.

In filling a barrel or hogshead with tobacco a cylindrical crate, substantially of the same size as that of the barrel is placed above the barrel and tobacco is deposited by chutes andother means into the barrel and cylindrical member above the barrel until both are filled and at this time the tobacco is forced with a hydraulic ram through the cylindrical member into the barrel wherein the tobacco in the barrel is thoroughly packed. Various devices have been provided for feeding and distributing the tobacco evenly over the inner surface of the barrel and cylindrical element, however, with conventional chutes and other feeding elements the tobacco may be high on one side which causes uneven packing. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a comparatively rapid rotating feeder, substantially in the form of an inverted frusto-conical section, positioned above the barrel and adapted to feed materials deposited therein into the barrel.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for forming and rotating a tobacco feeding chute whereby a kidney shaped spout forming the lower end of the chute travels around a circle positioned above a tobacco barrel or holding element above the barrel whereby tobacco is evenly distributed over the inner surface of the barrel.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improvedrotary feeder for facilitating filling tobacco barrels which is adapted to be used with barrels of the conventional type without changing the design or structure thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved rotary feeder for evenly distributing tobacco over the interior of tobacco containers in which the feeder is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a supporting frame having a circular track therein, a chute having a circular section positioned in the circular track of the supporting frame, rollers mounted on the frame and positioned to engage the circular section of the chute, an offset spout having a kidney shaped opening in the lower end depending from the circular section of the chute, means for rotating the circular section and chute, and a skirt positioned around the lower end of the spout of the chute and suspended from the frame.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view illustrating the improved rotary feeder showing the feeder positioned above a tobacco container and in which parts are broken away and shown in section.

Figure 2 is a plan view on an enlarged scale taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking downwardly upon the upper end of the chute and in which parts are broken away and shown in section.

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2 also with the parts shown on an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is a detail illustrating the arrangement of the horizontal and vertically disposed rollers with which the chute is journaled on the frame.

Figure 5 is a detail showing a take-up idler mounted in one side of the frame and positioned to retain tension in a belt with which the chute is rotated.

Figure 6 is a plan view of a chute similar to that shown in Fig. l with other parts omitted and showing a modification wherein the kidney shaped opening shown in Fig. 2 is replaced with a substantially triangular shaped opening.

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the chute shown in Fig. 6.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, the improved rotary feeder of this invention includes a chute It having a cylindrical upper section II with an annular horizontally disposed flange l2 on the upper end of the section II, a motor l3 for rotating the chute through a belt l4 and a frame having side bars 15 and I6, end bars ll and I8 and intermediate transverse bars I9 and 20.

The lower end 2| of the chute which is provided with a substantially kidney shaped opening 22 is mounted to travel around the inner surface of a skirt 23 that is suspended by chains 24 from the side bars [5 and [6 of the frame.

The skirt 23 is positioned to extend into the upper end of a cylindrical crate or filler 25 and the filler 25 is positioned above a tobacco barrel or container 26.

In the design shown the container 26 is positioned on a platform 21 and the platform is provided with caster wheels 28. It is understood, however, that the platform may be supported by other suitable means.

The upper end of the skirt 23 is provided with a hem or tunnel 29 and a supporting ring 30, which extends through the tunnel, retains the upper end of the ski-rt in an outwardly extended and circular position. The lower ends of the chains 24 are attached to the ring 30 with rings 3| and the upper ends are secured to the cross bars or side members 15 and N of the frame with fasteners or rings 32.

The chute is carried by rollers 33, 34, 3'5, and 36 which are mounted in bearings, such as the bearing 31, shown in Fig. 3 and the flange l2 travels on these rollers.

The chute is also secured in position by horizontally disposed rollers 38, 39, 40, M, and '42 which are journaled in brackets, such as the brackets 43 and these rollers are positioned to contact the outer surface of the cylindrical section ll of the chute. By this means the chute is retained in alignment with a tobacco barrel or other container over which the chute is positioned. The rollers 40, M, and 42 are positioned to take the load resulting from the pull of the belt I4 which extends around a groove or sheave '43 on the lower part of the section 11 and also over a pulley 44 carried by a shaft 45 extended downwardly from a gear reduction unit 46, the unit being directly geared to the motor [3 that is positioned on a platform 41 in one end of the frame, as shown in Fig. 2. The belt l4 travels over an idler pulley 48 that is 'journaled by a pin 49 on a bracket 55, one end of which is journaled by apin 5| in a bearing 52 on the side bars l6 of the frame. A spring 53, attached to a lug 54 extended from the end of the bracket 50 and connected, at the opposite end to an eye 55 on the lower side of the platform 41, maintains tension on the belt M, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

The frame is supported by vertically disposed struts 56 that extend downwardly from a superstructure 5! and grain is supplied to the chute with a hopper 58 that extends through an opening 59 in the said superstructure. It will be understood that the frame and rotating feeder may be supported by other suitable means.

As illustrated in Fig. 6 a chute Bil is provided with a triangular or V-shaped openin BI and the opening is provided with an arcuate outer end 62. The body of the chute is similar to that of the chute l0 and the upper end is secured to the lower end of the cylindrical section ll. It will be understood that chutes of different types and designs may be used in combination with the feeder.

The opening 6| may be used in the chute lil shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and it will also be understood that the opening may be formed of other suitable designs. The kidney-shaped opening illustrated in Fig. 2 and having a throat or filler plate 63 therein has been found to distribute, even the thumb nail tobacco often used in tobacco containers of this type.

It will be understood that modifications within the scope of the appended claims may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a rotary feeder, the combination which comprises a horizontally disposed frame, a chute having a vertically disposed cylindrical section with an offset spout depending therefrom positioned with said cylindrical section in the frame, rollers mounted in the frame and positioned to contact the peripheral surface of said cylindrical section, a horizontally disposed annular flange extending from the upper end of said cylindrical section, rollers mounted on the frame and positi'oned to contact the under surface of said flange, said cylindrical section having an "annular groove providing a sheave positioned on the outer surface, a motor mounted on the frame and means operatively connecting the motor to the sheave of the cylindrical section of the 'chute for rotating the chute.

2. In a rotary feeder, the combination which comprises a horizontally disposed frame, a chute having a vertically disposed cylindrical section with an offset spout depending therefrom positioned with said cylindrical section in the frame, rollers mounted in the frame and positioned to contact the peripheral surface of said cylindrical section, a horizontally disposed annular flange extending from the upper end of said cylindrical section, rollers mounted on the frame and positioned to contact the under surface of said flange, said cylindrical section having an annular groove providing a sheave positioned on the outer surface, a motor mounted on the frame, a gear reduction unit operatively connected to the motor and having a vertically disposed shaft extended downwardly therefrom, a pulley on the lower end of the shaft of the gear reduction unit, and a belt trained over the gear on the shaft of the gear reduction unit and around the sheave of the cylindrical section of the chute for rotating the chute.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 983,923 Munn et a1. Feb. 14, 1911 1,069,415 Grose Aug. 5, 1913 2,073,914 WilflBy Mar. 16, 1-937 2,596,018 Fishburne et al May 6, 1952 

